System for personalized information distribution

ABSTRACT

System for personalized information distribution (PID) from an information source server ( 1 ) to several user terminals ( 2 ) via an information distribution network ( 3 ) comprising several active nodes ( 4 ), forming a PID-tree ( 5 ). The active nodes comprise distribution control means ( 6 ) setting the information distribution process in the relevant active node in accordance with local distribution parameters (parm). The distribution parameters are manageable via said network by distribution control codes (dcc) originated by said user terminals or by other active nodes in the PID-tree. For setting-up or modifying the respective PID-path for the distribution of information from the information source server to the respective user terminal, the user terminal transmits its distribution control code to the first and—as far as necessary—further active nodes of the PID-path between the user terminal and the information source server and sets the active node&#39;s distribution control means according the user&#39;s capabilities and preferences.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention relates to a system for personalized informationdistribution (PID) from an information source server to several userterminals via an information distribution network.

[0002] The proposed PID service aimes to provide tailor-made informationdistribution to receivers using different devices, access technologiesand access speeds. Examples of PID services are live television in auser's own format/speed and language, realtime stock exchangeinformation of your favourite stocks on various devices, or distributionof a video stream to many end-users with different access technologies,access speeds, and various requirements regarding QoS.

[0003] In current IP networks it is difficult to distribute information,e.g., a video stream, to many end-users with different accesstechnologies and access speeds. Some possible solutions are:

[0004] sending multiple videostreams with different quality classes(e.g., 33 kbps on PSTN, 64 kbps on ISDN, 500 kbps on ADSL, etc.);

[0005] sending the videostream with the lowest quality decreasing theservice for the end-users connected with higher speeds;

[0006] selective discard of information elements, e.g., low priorityvideoframes in hierarchically encoded schemes.

[0007] These solutions can be implemented using traditionalpoint-to-point IP, or using IP-multicasting. The former isresource-intensive, but mechanisms for quality differentiation exist;the latter is resource efficient, but the creation and management oflarge multicast is complex. Moreover, until now IP-multicast onlysupports best-effort.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] According to the present invention an active solution for PID isproposed, applicable to video and or other content distribution. In thissolution, content is generated by a (single) source in a singleformat/quality, and distributed through the network to the end-usersusing a PID-tree consisting of paths (branches) with “active nodes”(also called “active network nodes” or “active (network) servers”). Theend-users may have different access capabilities like PSTN, ISDN, ADSLand LAN, and may have different terminal capabilities, for instancecolor or black/white display etc. or other Quality-of-Serviceparameters. The appropriate (not necessarily all) active nodes run “PIDActive Components” (PACs) which function as distribution control (orprocessing) means which, inherently to the active node or active networktechnology, can be set and manipulated from outside the respectiveactive node, via the network. Said PACs can be set by user terminals andby each other active node. In particular for the distribution ofinformation via said PID-trees, the PACs may be composed of a specificconfiguration of replication (‘R’) and transcoding (‘T’), whileadditional Basic Building Blocks (BBB) may be added.

[0009] Setup of the delivery tree, i.e., the PID-tree, is executed fullydistributed and is governed by an advertise-subscribe model: contentwill be advertised using existing end-user mechanisms, e.g., via awebpage (of the relevant PID service provider), and end-users cansubscribe to specific content. The “algorithm” for the setup ormodification of the PID-tree will be discussed below.

[0010] Summarizing, the invention refers to a system for personalizedinformation distribution (PID) from an information source server toseveral user terminals via an information distribution network, where,according to the invention, the network comprises several active nodes,said information being distributed to said terminals via a PID-treecomprising respective PID-paths between respective user terminals andsaid information source server, each PID-path comprising one or more ofsaid active nodes, while said active nodes comprise distribution controlmeans setting the information distribution process in the relevantactive node in accordance with local distribution parameters, saiddistribution parameters being manageable via said network by means ofdistribution control codes originated by said user terminals or by otheractive nodes. For setting-up or modifying the respective PID-path forthe distribution of information from the information source server tothe respective user terminal, according a further elaboration of theinvention, the user terminal transmits a subscription message,containing a distribution control code to the first active node of thePID-path between the user terminal and the information source server,said distribution control code representing the user terminal'scapability parameters and/or the user's preferences parameters like QoS,bandwidth, screen mode etc. Said control code, after being received bysaid first active node, is compared in said distribution control meanswith the local distribution parameters already set (if not explicitlyset, the parameters may have default values) in the distribution controlmeans, while said parameters are amended by said control codes inconformity with the user terminal's capability parameters and/or theuser's preferences parameters if the local distribution parameters setin the active node don't match those user terminal's capabilityparameters and/or the user's preferences parameters. When they do match,it may be unnecessary to amend the distribution parameters in any ofnext upstream active nodes. When the set local parameters are amended,the next upstream active node has to be investigated about whether itslocal parameters do or don't match the user terminal's or user'sparameters. According to the invention, in that case, in sofarapplicable with respect to the number of intermediate active nodes inthe relevant PID-path, in one or more sequential steps, a furtherdistribution control code (which may be equal to the control codealready mentioned), representing the last active node's new localdistribution parameters is always forwarded to the next intermediateactive node in the relevant PID-path between the user terminal and theinformation source server, in which next intermediate active node itsdistribution parameters, set in its distribution control means, arecompared, by those distribution control means, with the parameters asrepresented by the control code received from the preceding active nodeand are, if applicable, brought into conformity with the parametersrepresented by that control code. So, according to the above “algorithm”the distribution parameters in each PID-branch used for downstreamdistribution of information from the information source to the users isset in an upstream process, initiated by the user terminal, which sendsits desired distribution (transmission) parameters to the first, mostdownstream, active node in the distribution chain (PID-path), settingthe node's distribution parameters (QoS, bandwidth etc.) as desired bythe terminal, after which the most downstream node, aware of thePID-path, successively investigates its predecessor in the PID-pathwhether they are fit for downstream distribution the source server'sinformation in accordance with the user (terminal)'s desires,represented by the the upstream forwarded distribution control code.

EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0011]FIG. 1, illustrating the present invention, shows an informationsource server 1, distributing information to several user terminals 2via an information distribution network 3. The network 3 comprisesseveral active nodes 4, said information being distributed to saidterminals 2 via a PID-tree 5 comprising respective PID-paths between therespective user terminals 2 and said information source server 1. EachPID-path comprises one or more of said active nodes 4; the active nodescomprise distribution control means 6 (“PAC” in FIG. 1a), thedistribution parameters of which can be controlled via said network 3 bysaid user terminals 2 and mutually, by the several active nodes 4 theone another. FIG. 1 shows a PID-tree consisting of two active PID-paths,1-4 f-4 d-4 a-2 a and 1-4 f-4 e-4 c-2 e respectively as the result of a(previous) subscription of an ADSL-user 2 a and an ISDN-user to theserver's 1 information distribution service. This has led to theestablisment of a replication building block (RBB) R1 and transcodingbuilding blocks (TBBS) T1 and T2 at active node 4 f (T1transcodes—resulting in bandwidth reduction—the downstream informationstream to be fit for ADSL, T2 in the same way for ISDN).

[0012]FIG. 1a shows schematically the function of the distributioncontrol means 6, also indicated as “PAC”, part of active nodes 4. Adistribution control code “dcc” is suppied to said PAC 6 after which thePAC compares the parameters as requested by the user and/or the userterminal 2 with the parameters (“parm”) as which are set in the activenode at that moment. When the requested parameters differ from thelocally set parameters, the local parameters will be brought intoconformity with the requested parameters. Moreover, (a replica of the)distribution control code will be forwarded to the next active node inthe PID-path towards the information source server 1.

[0013]FIGS. 2 and 3 show stepwise modifications to this PID-tree whenadding users (activation of user terminals). FIG. 2 illustrates themodifications when a PSTN-user 2 d is added to the PID-tree.

[0014] The relevant user terminal 2 d transmits a distribution controlcode to the first active node of the PID-path between the user terminaland the information source server, viz. active node 4 c. Thedistribution control code dcc (FIG. 1a) represents the user terminal'scapability parameters, viz. PSTN, and/or the user's preferencesparameters, for instance a preferred use of low resolution video. Thecontrol code, after being received by said first active node 4 c, iscompared in the distribution control means 6 (FIG. 1a) with the localdistribution parameters parm (FIG. 1a) already set in the active node,viz. set to be fit for ISDN (terminal 2 e). Now said parameters areamended by said control codes: (1) a replication building block R2 isadded and (2) a transcoding building block (TBB) T3 is added, the latterbeing involved with reduction of the bandwidth from ISDN level—fit forterminal 2 e—to PSTN level, fit for terminal 2 d. While the PID-pathbetween the terminal 2 d and the source server 1 comprises some moreintermediate nodes, viz. the nodes 4 e and 4 f, in next step of the“set-up algorithm” a further distribution control code, representing thelast active node's 4 c new local distribution parameters, is forwardedto the next intermediate active node 4 e in the PID-path between theuser terminal and the information source server 1. In this intermediateactive node 4 e its distribution parameters, set in its distributioncontrol means are compared, by those distribution control means, withthe parameters as represented by the control code received from thepreceding active node 4 c and are brought into conformity with theparameters represented by the control code. In this case the thedistribution parameters do match the capability/preference parameters ofISDN terminal 2 e as well as PSTN terminal 2 d. For that reason theprocess is stopped, because the distribution parameters of active node 4e are fit for terminals 2 d and 2 e. If the parameters would, however,not match the requested or desired terminal/user parameters, the processwould be continued stepwise in one or more next steps, until thedistribution parameters in the whole PID-branch match the requestedterminal/user parameters.

[0015]FIG. 3 illustrates the stepwise process according to the inventionwhen a LAN-enabled terminal 2 c requests accession to the PID service.In the same way as described above, a distribution control code,representing the parameters fit for LAN terminal 2 c (high bandwidt,hight video quality etc.) is sent to active node 4 b, which sets itsdistribution parameters—transmission bandwidth, Quality-of-Service,replication on/off, etc.—accordingly. A transcoding building block willnot be necessary if LAN terminal 2 c is fit for the “full” outputbandwidth of the source server 1, while—as long as no additionalterminals are actively connected to node 4 b—no replication buildingblock is requested too. The distribution control code initiated byterminal 2 c —or a replica distribution control code, in each case acontrol code representing the terminal's and/or the user's requestedcapabilities and preferences—subsequently will be forwarded to activenode 4 d. Comparing, in that node 4 d, the parameters set in the controlmeans (PAC) of that node with the parameters as requested by thedistribution control code, representing the LAN terminal 2 c and itsuser, will result in setting the parameters in node 4 d into conformitywith said requested parameters, including in this case the addition of a(new) replication BB, R3, to be involved with replicating the downstreaminformation (packets) from the source towards ADSL terminal 2 a and LANterminal 2 c. In a next step, under the control of the (replica of the)distribution control code, the parameters of node 4 f will be broughtinto conformity with the (new) LAN terminal's 2 c specifications and thealready existing ADSL terminal's 2 a specifications, resulting in a moveof the transcoding BB T2 —envolved with reduction from “full” bandwidthto ADSL bandwidth—from active node's 4 f PAC (control means) to thenode's 4 d PAC. In other words, T2 is removed from node 4 f andinstalled in node 4 d, enabling a “bandwidth split”: full bandwidth toLAN terminal 2 c and reduced bandwidth to ADSL terminal 2 a.

1. System for personalized information distribution (PID) from an information source server (1) to several user terminals (2) via an information distribution network (3) comprising several active nodes (4), said information being distributed to said terminals via a PID-tree (5) comprising respective PID-paths between said information source server and respective user terminals, each PID-path comprising one or more of said active nodes, while said active nodes comprise distribution control means (6) setting the information distribution process in the relevant active node in accordance with local distribution parameters (parm), said distribution parameters being manageable via said network by means of distribution control codes (dcc) originated by said user terminals or by other active nodes in the PID-tree.
 2. System according to claim 1, CHARACTERIZED IN that for setting-up or modifying the respective PID-path for the distribution of information from the information source server to the respective user terminal, the user terminal transmits such a distribution control code to the first active node of the PID-path between the user terminal and the information source server, said distribution control code representing the user terminal's capability parameters and/or the user's preferences parameters, which distribution control code, after being received by said first active node, is compared in said distribution control means with the local distribution parameters already set in the active node, while said parameters are amended by said control codes in conformity with the user terminal's capability parameters and/or the user's preferences parameters if the local distribution parameters set in the active node differs from those user terminal's capability parameters and/or the user's preferences parameters, while in that case, in sofar applicable with respect to the number of intermediate active nodes in the relevant PID-path, in one or more sequential steps, said distribution control code or a similar code, representing the user terminal's capability parameters and/or the user's preferences parameters, is always forwarded to the next intermediate active node in the relevant PID-path between the user terminal and the information source server, in which next intermediate active node its set distribution parameters are compared with the parameters as represented by the distribution control code received from the preceding active node and are, as far as applicable, brought into conformity with the parameters represented by the control code.
 3. System according to claim 2, said distribution control means comprising at least one replication building block (RBB) for replication the information distributed by said information source server in accordance with the user terminal's capability and/or the user's preference parameters.
 4. System according to claim 2, said distribution control means comprising at least one transcoding building block (TBB) for transcoding the information distributed by said information source server in accordance with the user terminal's capability and/or the user's preference parameters. 